Micromotor actuated adjustable focus lens

Abstract

An adjustable focus lens apparatus includes a transparent lens body having a periphery, an attachment device adjacent to the periphery of the lens body for mounting the lens apparatus in an eye, and a plurality of micromotor devices spaced equally about and connected between the periphery of the lens body and the attachment means, each of the micromotor devices being responsive to an external control signal for selectively changing the position of an associated portion of the lens body with respect to the cornea and retina so that the functional power and astigmatism of the lens can be appropriately adjusted.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An adjustable focus intraocular lens apparatus for implantation into an eye comprising: a transparent lens body having a periphery;   an attachment means adjacent said periphery of said lens body; and   micromotor means connected between said periphery of said lens body and said attachment means and responsive to an external control signal for selectively and reversibly changing the position of said lens body with respect to a cornea and retina of an eye thereby adjusting the functional power and astigmatism correction of said lens body in the eye.   
     
     
       2. The lens apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said periphery of said lens body has an inner ring formed thereon, said attachment means is formed as an outer ring about said inner ring and said micromotor means is connected between said inner ring and said outer ring. 
     
     
       3. The lens apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said periphery of said lens body has an inner ring formed thereon, said attachment means is formed as a pair of loops and said micromotor means is connected between said inner ring and ends of said loops. 
     
     
       4. The lens apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said periphery of said lens body has an inner ring formed thereon, said attachment means is formed as at least a pair of loops and said micromotor means is connected between said inner ring and an end of each of said loops. 
     
     
       5. The lens apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said micrometer means moves said lens body forward and back along a path generally parallel to a path of travel of light rays between the cornea and the retina in the eye. 
     
     
       6. The lens apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said micrometer means is connected to said periphery of said lens body and said attachment means by pivot means for movement of said lens body forward and back along a generally arcuate path of travel in the eye. 
     
     
       7. An adjustable focus intraocular lens apparatus for implantation into an eye comprising: a transparent lens body having a periphery;   an attachment means adjacent said periphery of said lens body; and   a plurality of micromotors connected between said periphery of said lens body and said attachment means and each responsive to an external control signal for selectively and reversibly changing the position of an associated portion of said lens body with respect to a cornea and retina of an eye thereby adjusting the functional power and astigmatism correction of said lens body in the eye.   
     
     
       8. The lens apparatus according to claim 7 wherein each said micromotor is connected to said periphery of said lens body and said attachment means by pivot means for movement forward and back of said associated lens body portion along a generally arcuate path of travel in the eye. 
     
     
       9. An adjustable focus intraocular lens system for selectively positioning and orienting a lens body after implantation into an eye comprising: a transparent lens body having a periphery;   an attachment means adjacent said periphery of said lens body;   a plurality of micromotors connected between said periphery of said lens body and said attachment means and each responsive to an external control signal for selectively changing the position of an associated portion of said lens body with respect to a cornea and retina of an eye thereby adjusting the functional power and astigmatism correction of said lens body in the eye;   a control device external to the eye for generating said control signals; and   a computer connected to said micromotor control device, said computer generating control data to said control device representing desired functional power adjustments and astigmatism corrections, said control device being responsive to said control data for generating said control signals.   
     
     
       10. The system according to claim 9 including an optical sensing device connected to said computer for collecting optical data representing optical properties of said lens body and an eye and generating said optical data to said computer and wherein said control device generates actuation data representing said control signals to said computer, said computer associating said actuation data with said optical data for generating said control data. 
     
     
       11. The system according to claim 9 wherein said micromotor control device is adapted to be worn by a person having said lens body, said attachment means and said micromotors implanted in his eye.